black punks?

[crowdpleeser]

I was just wondering if there were any black people involved in the punk music movement in america or the uk. I read an article about one black guy who is in a punk band at the moment, and it got me thinking..........

[mikewith]

Off the top of my head, Jean Beauvoir of the Plasmatics (US), who in turn lead me via a quick Google to http://www.roctober.com/roctober/blackpunk1.html which over the course of four pages shows just how *few* black punks there were (in the States). Over here there was Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, and a host of important *associates* -- Don Letts and the Clash, for example. The Clash certainly understood and championed their black influences. The same with some of the music stirred up by punk: think of ska and multiracial bands like the Beat and Specials. Think of the reggae bands that influenced and were influenced by punk. Think of Linton Kwesi Johnson. But, in truth, you're right, there weren't many black punks...!

[kahunabean]

reminds me of a gig i went to..."Rockbitch" who are a weird all girl (except for a guitarist bloke) heavy metal band who preach and practice nudity and the sacrement (they have their own religion too) of free sex. The support act were industrial/metal. U don't often get a lot of black guys at heavy metal gigs (not that they wouldn't be welcome). I saw these 2 black guys there and they were *dancing* really well to what can best be described as "scrapyard noise". All the cider heads and bikers and hells angels and me were full of big-up respect to these guys for a) finding the beat and b) dancing really well.

[j2buttonsw]

D.H. Peligro of the Dead Kennedys

[crowdpleeser]

cool guys, thanks for the info. It's a bit depressing sometimes to look in the NME, and see so many black people. I'm not getting my ''black power'' soapbox, but it really makes a difference when I see a black person in a music magazine holding a guitar and singing rock music. If I ever see a black person in the NME, they're usually singing soul, R&B or rap, which is great, but it really got me thinking as to if there are any black people in the punk scene. And thanks to you guys, I've found out that there are! Cheers!